The USMNT has advanced to the knockout stage of the Gold Cup with three wins in its three group games, a feat many would have thought improbable given their pre-tournament form. Mauricio Pochettino seems to have found the players he can rely upon, but Johnny Cardoso isn’t one of them. The 23-year-old was outstanding for Real Betis this season, playing a key role as they reached their first-ever major European final before falling 4-1 to Premier League giants Chelsea in the Europa Conference League final. Domestically, he scored three goals and provided one assist in his 28 La Liga games, a pretty decent return for someone who largely plays as a defensive midfielder, as his side finished sixth and 10 points off the Champions League spots. His performance earned interest from Atletico Madrid. So, with many of the USMNT’s big stars either playing in the new look FIFA Club World Cup, injured or fatigued, Cardoso was widely expected to be a star man as the United States chased a trophy they should be looking to w
